Thread: Mexican leader critiques U.S. border fence

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon criticized the planned U.S. border fence designed to stem illegal immigration, saying countries should be "building bridges, not fences" in an interview broadcast on Monday.

On ABC television's "Good Morning America," Calderon lauded President George W. Bush's failed attempt to get the U.S. Congress to approve comprehensive immigration reform, and said the way to stop illegal immigration is to build economic growth and opportunities in Mexico, not fences.

"The world is open in new ways," he said. "We are building fences instead of bridges."

The U.S. Congress last year authorized construction of 700 miles of fences along portions of the border, although it has not yet given final approval to all construction costs.

Asked about estimates that Mexicans in the United States illegally send home $20 billion to their families, Calderon said the exodus is not a boon to the Mexican economy because the country is losing ambitious young people.

He mentioned complaints by U.S. farmers that the crackdown on migrants meant they did not have enough workers to harvest their crops, and said "capital and labor are like right shoe and left shoe."

He predicted the flow of Mexicans illegally crossing into the United States would decrease, possibly within a decade, as Mexico's economy grew. "I want to build the conditions in Mexico to provide the opportunities here in our land."

He said he hoped the United States and Mexico could see each other as allies as they confront challenges from Asian economies.

"I hope that one day the people in America could see the Mexican people as friends, like allies."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071008/pl_ ... o_usa_dc_1

Just once I would like to hear that OUR PRESIDENT was blasting the Mexican President for the huge problem he has created for us. Not only Created but supporting his own people to come here. Sounds like they both need an enima!!!!

I hope that one day the people in America could see the Mexican people as friends, like allies."

what a delusional piece of garbage. We could see them as friends if they would stay their uninvited**MOD EDIT** on their side of the border in their own cesspool and stop coming to America illegally and expecting us to bare Messyhole's burden.

Hey Mexico can you just shut up already...we don't care what you have to say...unless it is... your packing up and going home....

I think if we build the fence the way it should be and get the deportations going in the way they should be
Mexico will riot in its own boarders and demand what it should be given what America has to its own people.

That’s what Both Bush and Mexico are worried about…"scrared to death about"